Phrase guide

gum up

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To become gooey or gummy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Some types of lubricating grease gum up as they age.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To cause to be gooey or gummy, especially with the effect of obstructing the operation of some mechanism or process.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • Aging grease had gummed up the record changer.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To make non-functional; to interfere with or put into a state of disorder; to ruin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, idiomatic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

stick together as if with gum

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the inside of the pipe has gummed up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: clog, choke off, clog up, back up, congest, choke, foul

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: vermasseln — To cause to be gooey or gummy, especially with the effect of obstructing the operation of some mechanism or process